This fall, Washington voters will be asked to accept or reject Initiative 2117, a mega-millionaire-backed effort that risks the health of Washington families and children.
More than 450 organizations and Tribal Nations oppose I-2117, including physicians, educators and community leaders across the state. This initiative would repeal the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our children and grandchildren from harmful pollution.
“One in 10 children in Washington struggle with asthma. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy, unclean air from older school buildings and diesel school buses exacerbates existing asthma and puts communities at higher risk of disease,” explains Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonary and critical care physician.
I-2117 would jeopardize hundreds of millions in funding for clean air and transportation programs, including:
• Modernizing school buildings, making them cleaner and safer to ensure optimal learning conditions, including updating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
• Helping school districts transition school buses from diesel to electric.
• Reducing the severity of wildfires and dangerous smoke inhalation by removing dead and downed brush and vegetation on the forest floor.
• Improving the Safe Routes to Schools program that enhances pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure within two miles of elementary, middle, and high schools.
• Offering free transit passes for youths under 18 across the state.
Initiative 2117 is dangerous for Washington’s children. Vote No on I-2117! View the full list of organizations opposing I-2117 at no2117.com/our-coalition/,
Dr. Debbie King
Mukilteo
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